PEDRO: Little Pedro fast becoming the main man

'Pedrito' arrived at the Camp Nou in August 2004 after making waves at hometown club CD San Isidro of Tenerife as a youngster. Five years on we have Pedro the man, and he is proving to be an absolute revelation after scoring 7 in 14 games, including a cup winning goal in the Supercup against Bilbao. With the options Barca have in attack, it must be a daunting task trying to create a gap for yourself in that star-studded line-up, but the kid from the Canaries is giving Guardiola serious food for thought as he prepares his team for this weekends clash against Real Madrid.

Father figure Pep Guardiola

His journey through the ranks started in the 'Juvenils' but it wasn't until the 2007/2008 season that his immense promise was unleashed on the first team squad. That year he helped the Barcelona B side into the 'Segunda B' (Third Division) scoring 6 in 36 games and he was rewarded with two appearances in the first team by Frank Rijkaard, against Murcia and Valladolid. Rijkaard was moved on at the end of that season, with his Barca B boss Pep Guardiola given the hotseat and it is this close relationship with the manager that has helped Pedro make the leap so smoothly. In pre-season 2008/2009 Pep took him to Scotland, with the 'canterano' scoring his first goal for the first team on that tour and it was then that his transition from 'Pedrito' to 'Pedro' was complete.

Triple success 2008/2009

That season saw him play a part in both the Spanish Cup final against Athletic Bilbao and the Champions League final against Manchester United, as Barca won an unprecedented Triple; some way to start your career. These experiences are now bearing fruit as he goes from strength to strength in 2009; overtaking Bojan in the pecking order and scoring his first competitive goal which won Barcelona the Spanish Supercup in September against Athletic Bilbao. Since then he hasn't stopped scoring, bagging his first Champions League goal against Dynamo Kiev in September and putting Inter Milan to the sword this week with a perfectly timed run that gave him space to slot in Alves' cross.

Spain call-up on the horizon?

Equally comfortable with both feet, Pedro can play on either wing or up-front, as is currently being used by Guardiola as one of a three-pronged attack in Barca's stylish 4-3-3 formation. It's difficult to specify one outstanding trait in Pedro's repetoire: he's quick but not lightning quick, he's skilfull but not mesmerisingly so. Able to take defenders on and possessing a sweet strike his success is part down to his extraordinary technical ability (see the goal against Almeria below!), something developed at Barca from an early age and which has rewarded the club with world class talent such as Xavi, Iniesta and Messi. The number 17 is the most recent to roll off the conveyor belt, and is now firmly fixed on Del Bosques radar, with fans clamouring for his inclusion in the Spanish national team. It won't be easy but nothing could alert the Spain coach more than a match-winning performance against Real Madrid on sunday.

 Pedro Goal against Almeria (03.10.09)